Spanish Doors

After the Moors conquered the Iberian Peninsula in 711, it became known as Al-Andalus. Independent Muslim states ruled for 750 years. Immediately following the Moorish conquest, several Christian kingdoms from the north started the long, slow recovery of the peninsula, known as the Reconquista. The Reconquest was successful with the fall of Granada in 1492, and the Kingdom of Spain was created by the unification of the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. That same year, Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World, the Inquisition began, and Jews and Muslims who refused to convert were expelled from the country.

Over the next three centuries, Spain became the most important colonial power in the world, establishing a vast empire in the Americas and western Pacific. However, Spain became involved in court intrigue in other European countries, finding itself in numerous wars that led to economic ruin.

The English defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, and the war that continued until 1604 nearly destroyed the national treasury of Spain.

Girona is a city in northeastern Spain on the Costa Brava, which is near the French border.
The Romans originally built Girona and its original city walls survived until the late 19th century when the walls were demolished, allowing for city expansion.
Girona’s history includes twenty-five sieges, during which it was captured seven times. In May of 1809, thirty-five thousand French Napolenoic troops besieged the town, which held out until December 12, 1809 when it was forced to capitulate because of disease and famine.